Smalling Makes 200th United Appearance

Chris Smalling played his 200th Manchester United game in the Barclays Premier League victory over Aston Villa and the centre-back is proud of the milestone.

Signed from Fulham, Smalling began his Old Trafford career in the summer of 2010 and has gradually become more and more influential during the following six seasons, to the point where he is now one of Louis van Gaal’s stand-in captains and undoubtedly one of the very first names on the team-sheet.

The 26-year-old has been particularly excellent throughout this current campaign and has registered 48 appearances – which is his highest figure in a single term at United and almost a quarter of his total tally, which emphasises how consistent he has become at the heart of the defence.

Speaking to MUTV ahead of his 200th outing, Smalling was already looking forward to bigger and better achievements. “It's a great milestone and such a high number is a great achievement,” he said. “I am looking forward to the game and kicking on, and then making a bigger achievement.”

Reflecting on his sixth season, he continued: “Each year, you get used to your surroundings and playing with such good players, it just spurs you on to keep improving each day and to really contribute. I feel like am I really kicking on and I hope to keep playing, and to keep learning.”

The win for United condemned Aston Villa to relegation and Smalling admitted before the game that he was surprised to see the Midlands club in such a predicament.

“At the start of the season, I don't think anyone expected to see Aston Villa down at the bottom and to be so far adrift,” he says. “They are a club that has always had very good traditions and played Premier League football for a very long time. But I think it just goes to show how crazy this league has gone, it has been so unpredictable and anyone is vulnerable.”